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The representative elements are found in Groups I and II, which are on the left side of the Periodic Table, and Groups III through VIII on the right side of the table. These elements include the alkali metal group, alkaline earth metals and chalcogens.

The elements in each group share the same characteristics. For example, alkali metals are soluble in water and easily cut with a knife. Alkaline earth metals are harder than alkali metals, and they are not as reactive with oxygen.

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Halogens include the elements chlorine, bromine and iodine, which form Group 7 in the periodic table of elements. Halogens vary in size, weight and other physical characteristics, but share several commonalities. All halogens are diatomic, which means they appear as molecules and have pairs of atoms.

There are three primary components inside an atom: neutrons, electrons and protons. The neutrons have no charge, while the protons have a positive charge and electrons have a negative charge. The neutrons and protons exist in a dense center area called the nuclei, while the electrons exist in another space, called orbitals, around the nuclei.

Covalent bonding describes the process where two atoms form a bond by sharing one or more electrons in order to fill up their outer orbital and become more stable. Covalent bonding typically occurs between two non-metals, which are mostly located on the right side of the periodic table.

Chemical properties of radium are its high reactivity and that it continuously breaks down and changes into other elements. Most radium isotopes, or atoms that have a different number of neutrons than the normal radium atom, are unstable and radioactive.